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American Revolution Timeline: Important Political Dates

Join or Die Poster John Adams once wrote, "But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people." The following table recognizes Adams' distinction and offers a summary of those events that changed many Americans from loyal subjects of the king in 1763 to revolutionaries intent on independence in 1776. The military result of this process is summarized elsewhere in the timeline of the War of Independence.

Date
British Policies
Impacting American Colonies
Events in American Colonies
1763
February 10
Treaty of Paris ending French and Indian War
October
Proclamation of 1763 prohibits western settlement
1764
April 5
Sugar Act enacted to defray cost of recent war
various
Customs Office reforms to tighten enforcement of trade laws
April 19
Currency Act restricts issuance of paper money in colonies
May

James Otis raises cry of "no taxation without representation"
August

Bostonians boycott British-made luxuries
1765
March 22
Stamp Act passed as first "direct tax" on American colonies
March 24
Quartering Act passed for maintaining British troops in America
May

Patrick Henry delivers "treason" speech in the Virginia House of Burgesses
June

Massachusetts sends Circular Letter to organize opposition to Stamp Act
August 14

Sons of Liberty terrorize Andrew Oliver in Boston
August 26

Looting of Thomas Hutchinson house by Sons of Liberty
October 7-25

Stamp Act Congress meets in New York City
November 1

Effective date for Stamp Act
November

Stamp Act riots in New York City
1766
February 22
House of Commons considers repeal of Stamp Act (House approval March 4; Lords on March 17)
March 18
Declaratory Act approved in wake of Stamp Act repeal
August

Riots in New York City over enforcement of Quartering Act
December

New York assembly suspended
1767
June - July
Townshend Acts passed:
New York Restraining Act
Customs Service Reform
Townshend Duty Act

October

Boycott of British luxury items in Boston
December 2

First installment of John Dickinson's Letters
1768
February 11

Samuel Adams and James Otis' circular letter opposing Townshend Acts sent to colonial assemblies
April

Temporary crisis over John Hancock's ship, Lydia
May

British warship arrives in Boston harbor to protect threatened customs officials
June 10

Customs officials seize Hancock's Liberty
July

Massachusetts assembly suspended for refusing to rescind Circular Letter
October 1

British troops occupy Boston
1769
May

Virginia Resolves of George Mason oppose British policies; governor closes House of Burgesses
throughout

Nonimportation agreements spread to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina
1770
January 16-18

Sons of Liberty v. Redcoats in New York City ends in Battle of Golden Hill
March 5

Boston Massacre followed by removal of troops from city
April 12
Repeal of Townshend Duties except for tax on tea
October - December

John Adams' defense of Capt. Preston and troops
1772
June 9-10

Gaspee affair in Narragansett Bay
November

Boston Committee of Correspondence formed
1773
March

Virginia creates Committee of Correspondence
May 10
Tea Act into effect
December 16

Boston Tea Party
1774
January 29
Benjamin Franklin scolded by Privy Council in London
March 31
Coercive Acts (initial)
Boston Port Act
Measure labeled as "Intolerable Acts" in colonies
May 13

Boston boycott; Thomas Gage replaces Hutchinson; additional troops arrive
May 20
Coercive Acts (additional)
Massachusetts Government Act
Administration of Justice Act

June 2
Coercive Acts (additional)
Quartering Act (revised)

June 22
Quebec Act (Regarded in America as Intolerable Act)
July 18

Fairfax Resolves adopted by Virginia convention
September 5

First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia (adjourns Oct. 26)
September 9

Suffolk Resolves adopted in Massachusetts
September 17

Congress urges defiance of Coercive Acts and formation of militias
October 10
Battle of Point Pleasant
October 14

Congress approves Declaration of Rights and Grievances
October 20

Continental Association formed to enforce boycotts
1775
February 9
Parliament declares American colonies in state of rebellion
March 23

Patrick Henry's "liberty or death" speech
March 30
New England Restraining Act
April 18

Revere and others warn of British move
April 19

Battle of Lexington and Concord
May 10

Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia